It drew comparison to Ronald Reagan's costly and ambitious project to create a space-based anti-missile system at the height of the Cold War in the 1980s which was derisively dubbed “Star Wars” by critics.

Speaking at the Pentagon, Mr Trump explained the new strategy and insisted that now was the time to modernise to keep America safe.

China, whose space programme is run by the Peoples Liberation Army, is launching more rockets into space than any other country these daysCredit:
AFP

"Our goal is simple: To ensure we can detect and destroy any missile launched against the United States - anywhere, anytime, anyplace," Mr Trump said.

The review picked out four countries that pose a missile threat to Americans on home soil – North Korea, Iran, Russia and China – and warned that adversaries were rapidly developing their programs.

It said that North Korea posed an “extraordinary threat”, in contrast to Mr Trump’s declaration after meeting its leader Kim Jong-un last year that “there is no longer a nuclear threat”.

“We have some very bad players out there,” Mr. Trump said. “We’re a good player. But we can be far worse than anybody if need be.”

Mr Trump named six priorities: Putting the defence of Americans first; developing new technologies; being prepared for all types of missile attacks; recognising space is now in play; removing obstacles to US projects; and demanding “burden sharing” from allies.

It was his comments on space that especially raised eyebrows. “We will recognise that space is a new war-fighting domain, with the Space Force leading the way,” Mr Trump said.

Space Force is Mr Trump’s proposal – seemingly popular with his supporters – for a free-standing military department focussed specifically on space. Currently such issues largely fall under the US Air Force.

The move has faced some opposition in the Pentagon, including from former defence secretary James Mattis, over whether the major reorganisation needed for its creation would being enough benefit.

Mr Trump said that his next budget will invest in a “space-based missile defence layer”. US officials have suggested a layer of sensors in space would help detect missiles moving at hypersonic speeds.

“It’s new technology,” Mr Trump said. “It’s ultimately going to be a very, very big part of our defence and, obviously, of our offence.”

Another area Mr Trump focused on was removing “bureaucratic obstacles” that limit his administration’s ability to develop its missile defence program.

Late last year the Trump administration announced it was pulling America out of 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty, which bans ground-launch nuclear missiles up to certain heights.

The treaty has been a key plank of arms control for the last 30 years but the Trump administration argues that Russia has repeatedly violated its terms while other adversaries are not signed up.

Mr Trump said on Thursday: “In the past, the United States lacked a comprehensive strategy for missile defense that extended beyond ballistic missiles.

“Under our plan, that will change. The US will now adjust its posture to also defend against any missile strikes including cruise and hypersonic missiles."

"We are committed to establishing a missile-defense program that can shield every city in the United States. And we will never negotiate away our right to do this.”

Responding to the new strategy, the chair of Russia's upper house defence and security committee, Viktor Bondarev, said it would ramp up global tensions, according to Interfax news agency.